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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The archiepiscopal ensemble of Rouen, adjacent to Notre-Dame Cathedral, is the only one in France to retain its original function of archdiocese. His story begins with the displacement of the episcopal mansion to the northeast of the cathedral, probably during Norman invasions and the creation of the duchy. The first architectural traces date back to Guillaume Bonne-Âme, of which a lower room and foundations remain near the court of the Mîte Saint-Évode.

The Gothic palace, contemporary of the cathedral, was built by Guillaume de Flavacourt in the 13th century. It includes a watchtower and a large hall, where the trial of Jeanne d'Arc (1431) and his trial in rehabilitation (1456) took place. Louis II of Luxembourg grew, before Guillaume d'Estouteville rebuilt it almost entirely between 1462 and 1464, adding the State Hall and a staircase with screws for 400,000 pounds.

Georges I of Amboise (1495–1507) radically transformed the palace, spending nearly 2 million pounds. It doubles the house of Estouteville, erects two pavilions (Saint-Romain and Notre-Dame), and creates a pleasant garden with fountains and statues. The modifications continued in the 17th to 18th centuries: the Episcopal Chapel was destroyed in 1716, the Library was added to house a collection of books, and the State Hall was embellished by Hubert Robert in 1773.

During the Revolution, the palace became a wheat attic and barracks, before regaining its religious function in 1802. The 1905 law led to the departure of the Archbishop, but the places were returned to the Church in 1920. Major restoration took place in the late 1990s. Today, it is home to the Historial Jeanne d'Arc and remains a symbol of Norman ecclesiastical power.

The architecture combines Gothic and classical styles, with elements such as the State Hall (the 16th century windows, paintings by Hubert Robert) and medieval kitchens. The palace was classified as a Historic Monument in 1909, with extensive protections in 1995 for its archaeological remains. Its unity with the cathedral makes it an exceptional ensemble.

The site also served as a setting for the show Secrets d'Histoire (2015), dedicated to Jeanne d'Arc, highlighting her indelible link with the history of France.

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